Pharmacist’s Error Proves Fatal for Nursing Home Patient
Pharmacy errors can happen more often than you know. Recent studies show that as many as 10 percent of all medical prescriptions are filled in error. Adverse reactions to receiving the wrong medication can result in serious personal injuries, organ damage and even death. Prescription errors could involve dispensing the wrong medication or giving the patient the wrong dosage. In some cases the pharmacist may not account for drug allergies or harmful drug interactions with other medications that the patient was taking.
According to a recent news report, a pharmacist error cost the life of a nursing home resident who suffered kidney damage and died as a result of taking the wrong medication. The pharmacist apparently sent the wrong formulation of a powerful antifungal drug, which caused kidney failure and prevented effective treatment for cancer and fungal pneumonia. The drug comes in four formulations including a traditional one that is more damaging to the kidneys. Although the prescription called for a different formulation, the pharmacist gave the traditional formulation and sent it to the nursing home with the wrong label. By the time the error was discovered, it was too late for this patient.
Damages for pharmacy errors may include medical expenses incurred and any future medical care required to treat the long-term effects of the harmful medicine. Victims can also seek compensation to cover lost wages if the injury or illness results in a disability, loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. If the loved one died as a result of the pharmacy or prescription error, the family could pursue a wrongful death claim against the pharmacy or the hospital.
If your loved one has been seriously injured by medical negligence as a result of pharmacy or prescription errors, please contact the reputed personal injury Seattle attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington personal injury cases, which has useful, educational information that will help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.
